Kentucky Derby: Best Bets & Tips To Win Race

The first Saturday in May is right around the corner, which means it’s time for the Kentucky Derby. The most accomplished trainers in North America will bring their best horses to Churchill Downs for the opening leg of the annual Triple Crown hoping that their representative can make history and win this race outright. Let’s take a look at five horses in the field who should be in the running for the win:

Omaha Beach
Kentucky Derby Odds: +375

Omaha Beach is a three-year-old colt that has won three straight races. Those wins came at the Arkansas Derby and the Rebel Stakes, beating Improbable and Game Winner – two other Derby contenders – in the process. This looks like Richard Mandella’s best shot to win the Run for the Roses. The Hall of Fame trainer might have a good shot as favourites have won the Kentucky Derby six straight times.

Improbable
Kentucky Derby Odds: +700

While Omaha Beach and Roadster are listed ahead of Improbable at the top of the board as favourites, the dual Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert’s entry might be a better wager than both of them. The chestnut colt won the Street Sense at Churchill Downs dirt track, winning that race by 7 ¼ lengths. He also placed second to Omaha Beach at the Arkansas Derby, which came on the heels of a slow start, and second at the Rebel Stakes.

Maximum Security
Kentucky Derby Odds: +1000

Maximum Security has never lost a race in his career so far. The three-year-old colt won a few allowances but there thoroughly impressed with a win at the Xpressbet Florida Derby. The advanced metrics indicate that Maximum Security should continue to excel against quality competition at Churchill Downs. There are some concerns, though, including the fact that he’s never run a race at 1 ¼ miles. That’s part of why we’ve seen him tumble from the 6/1 range back down to 10/1 this week.

War of Will
Kentucky Derby Odds: +1500

Trained by Mark Casse, War of Will is listed in the second tier of horses right behind the favourites However, War of Will has won three of his last four races heading into the Derby, including a maiden special weight run at Churchill Downs. The reason his odds are dragging behind is he suffered a muscle pull at the Louisiana Derby and finished ninth. The concern is whether or not he actually suffered an injury or whether that’s the reasoning given for a lousy finish. He’s looked good in warmups, speeding through four furlongs in :47 3/5 at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

By My Standards
Kentucky Derby Odds: +2500

Coming off a career-best performance in the Louisiana Derby, By My Standards appears to be another excellent value pick for this year’s Kentucky Derby. There has been plenty of talk about the quality performances that this horse has displayed in workouts at Churchill Downs over the past couple of weeks. This horse has finished in the money in all five of his starts, so he might be a good bet to show even if you don’t like him to win the race outright.